Most Schools “Failing” By No Child Left Behind Standards

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Currently, if you have a child in public education, there is only a one in four shot that he or she is not in a “failing” school, based on the standards set up by the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) initiative passed by George W. Bush. And, if education isn’t addressed, that could drop to one in five.

More than three-quarters of the nation’s public schools could soon be labeled “failing” under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, the Obama administration said Wednesday as it increased efforts to revamp the signature education initiative of President George W. Bush.

The projection from Education Secretary Arne Duncan amounted to a declaration that the school-ratings revolution Bush began nearly 10 years ago is itself in jeopardy because the law has become unworkable. President Obama is pushing to loosen accountability rules for most schools but crack down harder on the worst.

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“This law is fundamentally broken, and we need to fix it, and fix it this year,” Duncan told the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. “The law has created dozens of ways for schools to fail and very few ways to help them succeed. We should get out of the business of labeling schools as failures and create a new law that is fair and flexible and focused on the schools and students most at risk.”

Duncan’s estimate that 82 percent of schools could miss academic targets this year, up from 37 percent last year, was based on an Education Department analysis.

As Judy Molland wrote yesterday, President Obama has taken a renewed interest in education and the revamping of NCLB, an interest that so far has not been apparent in his support for budget initiatives that include dramatic reduction in education spending. However, his intentions to overhaul the program appear to have more to do with fixing how schools are labeled as failing than it does actually addressing the crisis in which our public schools are increasingly finding themselves.

thats like the no bullying policies more useless than the paper its printed on; no matter what ya do you are still guna have bullies and stupid kids who don't care about their own education i mean if they want to fail i say let its their own life their destroying not mine

Here in Canada we have a similar "no child left behind" mentality in our schools, it's really irritating when a professional fiction author who could easily take English at a university level is forced to be hindered by attending the same class with a bunch of drunk and stoned losers who, some of them don't even know how to read and one or two of them struggle with pronouncing simple works like "strategic" or "tidal". One time a kid even asked the teacher what a character was!!!! I mean, c'mon! School grades shouldn't be decided by age, but skill level and IQ.

There are private pre-schools that might have teachers who are not trained, college educated, certified teachers. However, in the public schools, a teacher obtained a 4 year degree and probably went on for a master's or higher. A teacher does continuing education classes on weekends and summers, accumulating hundreds of required hours to remain certified. A teacher is also given professional development training, probably one hour or more a week through the school system. Teachers must pass these classes and it is up to administrators to evaluate these credentials when hiring. Many teachers are getting National Board Certification, too, which is rigorous. Most of all of this is paid for by the teacher. Teachers expect their colleagues to be proficient, because if one is not then all of the others will have to deal with the consequences as the students move through the system. Administrators observe teachers and keep records of evaluations. They drop into classes by surprise and by arrangement. Many teachers win awards for being the best in their field but this does not get into the newspapers and it is a small blurb in the newsletters sent home, which have to be read in order for the parents and community to be informed.

PJ, I hope you are being sarcastic.
Mary, yes teachers are tested for qualifications. We have to pass tests in order to be certified. Also, some colleges require a certain GPA before a student is allowed into the school of education.

We are in our state testing week right now, some of the kids take their time and try. Others race through just to get finished. As always, there are some students who want to learn, and some who don't. Yet, we have to teach all of them and get them all to proficiency.

Why are we talking about no child left behind? It was never funded so why bother to judge it? We are going to be very sorry we went to war on the teachers. Hear yourselves and mark the moments. It will come back to haunt you because you are being unjust to them. Your profession is next. Don't think it is not being eyed. The real game plan here is to dismantle Americans and America are you going to help that along? And apology later will not save the damge you are causing today. Smarten up.

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Beth is a freelance writer and editor living in the Rocky Mountain West. So far, Beth has lived in or near three major U.S. mountain ranges, and is passionate about protecting the important ecosystems they represent. Follow Beth on Twitter as @ecosphericblog or check out her blog. less